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Short answer: Facebook offers different options depending on whose video it is. You can usually download an eligible video or reel that you own, save someone else’s video inside Facebook for later viewing, or export copies of your own shared photos and videos through Accounts Center. Facebook does not provide a universal download button for every video, and the Save video command creates a bookmark—not an MP4 file on your device.
Only download or record videos that you own, have permission to use, or are otherwise authorized to copy under applicable law. Downloading a video does not automatically give you permission to repost it.
Choose the right method first
| What you want to do | Best option | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Keep a video you shared | Download it from Facebook if the option is available, or export your information | A local copy of your own media |
| Download an ended Facebook Live video you own | Use Facebook on a computer | A downloaded video file |
| Find someone else’s video later | Use Save video or Save reel | A bookmark inside Facebook, not necessarily a local file |
| Create a local recording when no download option exists | Use your device’s built-in screen recorder, where permitted | A screen-recording file, subject to technical and legal limits |
Facebook’s menus and feature availability can vary by device, account, region, and interface rollout. A button described below may have a slightly different name or location in your version of Facebook.
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Download an ended Facebook Live video you own in a web browser
This is Facebook’s clearest official browser download route. It applies to an ended Live video that you own and that has not been deleted; it should not be treated as a method for downloading every Facebook video.
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- Sign in to Facebook on a computer.
- Open your profile menu and select Videos. Depending on the current interface, you may need to open your profile first and then find the video library.
- Open the ended Live video you want to download.
- Open the video’s options control in the upper-right area.
- Select Download Video.
- If the first click only refreshes the page, look for the resulting Download control and select it.
The file normally goes to your browser’s default Downloads location. Check the browser’s downloads list if you cannot find it.
Save a Facebook video in a browser for later
If you only want to find a video again, saving it inside Facebook is usually the safest and simplest choice. This works for videos and reels that Facebook allows you to save, including content you do not own.
- Open the video or reel.
- Open its options menu.
- Select Save video or Save reel.
To watch it later, open Facebook’s Saved area, or Saved Reels where that separate section is shown.
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Important: Facebook’s Save feature is a bookmark. It does not normally download an MP4 or make the video available as a file in your computer’s Downloads folder.
Download a reel you shared in the Facebook app
Facebook documents downloading a reel that you shared to an iPhone or Android device. The feature is intended for the Facebook mobile apps and may not appear when you use Facebook on a computer.
- Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or Android phone.
- Open your profile.
- Open the video or reel that you shared.
- Open the item’s options menu.
- Look for the command to download the reel to your device and follow the prompts.
The exact wording and placement of the download command can vary. If you do not see it, confirm that you are viewing a reel you shared, update the Facebook app, and try again. For your own media, Facebook’s information-export tool is the more reliable fallback.
Save someone else’s video in the Facebook app
When you do not own a video—or simply want convenient access without creating a local copy—save it inside Facebook:
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- While viewing the video or reel, open the options menu.
- Tap Save video or Save reel.
- Later, open the Facebook app’s Saved area to find it.
This does not give you a downloadable file or permission to repost the creator’s work. If you need an offline or reusable copy, ask the creator for an authorized file.
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Download your own Facebook photos and videos with information export
Facebook’s information-export tools can provide a copy of original media that you shared, including your own photos and videos. This is useful when a direct download button is missing or when you want to retrieve more than one item.
The export does not include content that someone else shared. Menu names and the exact Accounts Center layout can vary, but the stable route is:
- Open Facebook’s Settings & privacy.
- Select Settings.
- Open Accounts Center, or look for Your information and permissions.
- Choose Export your information.
- Select the Facebook profile containing the media.
- Choose whether to export the information to your device or, where offered, to an external service.
- Select the relevant media categories, such as photos and videos, and adjust the date range or other available filters.
- Request the export and wait for Facebook to prepare it.
- Download the completed export when Facebook makes it available, then locate the media in the downloaded archive.
Exports can take time, especially when they contain a large amount of video. If you are looking for one specific video, a direct download—when available—is usually faster.
Use screen recording only as a fallback
Screen recording can create a local recording when Facebook does not expose a download control. It is not a way to bypass privacy settings, technical restrictions, copyright protections, or the creator’s permissions. The resulting file is a recording of what appears on your screen, not necessarily the original-quality video.
iPhone or iPad
- Open Control Center.
- Tap the Record button.
- Wait through the countdown, then play the authorized video.
- When finished, stop recording using the control in the status area or from Control Center.
- Open the Photos app to find the recording.
Apple notes that some apps may restrict audio or video recording. If the recording has no sound or does not capture the video, use an authorized original copy or ask the creator to provide the file rather than trying to defeat the restriction.
Android
- Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings.
- Tap Screen record. If it is not visible, edit Quick Settings and add it if your phone supports the feature.
- Choose the available audio and touch-display options.
- Start recording, then play the authorized video.
- Stop from the screen-recorder notification.
- Open Google Photos and check the device’s Movies area for the recording.
Screen recording is not available or positioned identically on every Android version and phone manufacturer. Audio options and recording behavior can also differ.
Windows or Mac
Modern Windows and macOS versions include built-in screen-recording tools. Their names and shortcuts vary by operating-system version, so use the computer’s own screen-capture utility rather than installing an unverified “Facebook downloader” extension. A browser extension is not an official Facebook download method and may introduce privacy or security risks.
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Only download or record videos that you own, have permission to use, or are otherwise authorized to copy under applicable law. Facebook’s copyright guidance makes clear that downloading, recording, crediting the owner, or adding a disclaimer does not automatically eliminate infringement risk.
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- Do not repost someone else’s video merely because Facebook lets you view it.
- Respect the creator’s copyright, privacy, and any applicable terms of use.
- Do not assume that a public video is free to reuse commercially.
- When in doubt, ask the creator for permission or request the original file.
Third-party downloader websites and apps create an additional account-security risk. Malicious apps can imitate legitimate tools, display fake Facebook login pages, or request more account access than necessary.
- Never enter your Facebook password into a video-downloader website.
- Do not install an APK or app from an untrusted third-party store just to download a video.
- Abandon any tool that requires Facebook login credentials.
- Be suspicious of pages that claim Facebook has detected a problem and ask you to sign in again.
- Review connected apps in Facebook settings and remove ones you no longer trust or need.
- Remember that a connected third-party app may access information according to the permissions you granted and may retain information previously shared with it.
What to do when there is no Download button
A missing download control does not mean you need a third-party downloader. It usually means one of the following:
- The video is not eligible for direct download.
- You are viewing content owned or shared by someone else.
- The download feature is limited to a particular content type, such as an ended Live video or a reel you shared.
- The Facebook interface or feature rollout has changed.
- You are using a platform where the feature is not offered.
Use Save video or Save reel if you only need to find the content later. Use information export for your own photos and videos. Use permitted screen recording only when you are authorized to make a recording and Facebook and your device allow it.
Find the downloaded or recorded file
Computer
Check the browser’s downloads list and the default Downloads folder. A direct Facebook download normally follows the browser or operating system’s standard download destination.
iPhone or iPad
Screen recordings are normally stored in Photos. A file downloaded through a browser may instead be in the Files app, depending on how it was downloaded and saved.
Android
For screen recordings, open Google Photos and check the device’s Movies area. A direct download may appear in the phone’s Downloads folder or in the file manager.
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“Save video” did not create a file
That is expected. Save is an in-Facebook bookmark. Open Facebook’s Saved area to watch the video later; use an authorized download, export, or screen recording if you genuinely need a local copy.
The reel download command is missing
Make sure you are viewing a reel you shared in the Facebook app, not another person’s reel or the desktop site. Update the app and check again. If the option remains absent, export your own information instead.
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The ended Live video will not download
Confirm that you are signed in to the account that owns the video, that the Live video has ended and has not been deleted, and that you are using Facebook on a computer. If the control still does not appear, use the information-export workflow for your own media.
The screen recording has no sound
Check the audio choice before starting an Android recording. On Apple devices, some apps may restrict audio or video capture. Device settings, app behavior, and the content itself can affect the result. Do not attempt to defeat a recording restriction; obtain an authorized copy instead.
The video quality is poor
A screen recording captures the playback on your display and may be lower quality than the original. A native download or a file supplied by the owner is preferable when available.
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Can I download any Facebook video?
No. Facebook does not provide a universal download button for every video. Direct downloads are generally limited to eligible content such as certain videos you own, ended Live videos, or reels you shared.
Does Save video download a Facebook video to my phone?
No. Save video and Save reel bookmark the item inside Facebook so you can find it later. They do not normally create a local video file.
Can I download someone else’s Facebook video?
Do not assume that viewing or saving a video gives you permission to download or reuse it. If Facebook does not provide an authorized download, ask the creator for a copy or use Save for later viewing.
Where are Facebook downloads stored?
On a computer, check the browser’s downloads list and Downloads folder. On iPhone or iPad, screen recordings appear in Photos. On Android, screen recordings can be found in Google Photos under the device’s Movies area; direct downloads may be in Downloads.
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Avoid any site or app that asks for your Facebook password or directs you to a questionable login page. Third-party tools can expose your account or personal information and are not required for Facebook’s supported download and export options.
The Bottom Line
If it is your video, first look for Facebook’s native download option; for your own broader media library, use information export. If it belongs to someone else, use Save video or Save reel for later viewing unless you have permission to make a local copy. Avoid downloader sites that request Facebook credentials, and never treat a downloaded or recorded file as automatic permission to repost it.
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